Goa police arrests two in Margao blast case

Two persons were arrested on Saturday in connection with the blast in which two members of a right-wing Hindu group were killed in the commercial town of Margao in Goa on October 16.

"We have arrested two persons in connection with the blast. Both are locals," Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravindra Yadav told PTI. However, the official did not reveal the names of those arrested. Police sources said that the arrests were made on basis of clues received from the mobile phone used by Malgonda Patil, one of the two victims who was later named an accused.

The blast occurred after an explosive device kept in a scooter went off on a busy street in Margao, 30 kms from Panaji on the eve of Diwali, killing two Sanatan Sanstha activists who were allegedly ferrying explosives, police had said. Patil and Yogesh Naik, who were named as accused in the case, died in the blast.

The duo was affiliated to the Sanatan Sanstha, a right-wing Hindu organisation which operates from a Ashram at Ramnathi village in Goa and came under police scanner after the incident. A Special Investigation Team of Goa police is probing the case.